Joel Alex Longhi

Efeitos a curto prazo de "stents" não recobertos e recobertos com politetrafluoroetileno em aorta de suínos: um modelo experimental

PURPOSE: To report an experimental study evaluating, through digital morphometry, the intimal thickening of the arterial wall after the implant of auto-expandable stainless steel stents covered or not with polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) in the pig aorta. METHODS: In three groups of pigs a 12 F sheath was inserted in distal abdominal aorta. Group I animals (n=5) served as control. Group II animals (n=10) received an auto-expandable uncovered metallic stent. On group III animals (n=10) an auto-expandable stent covered with PTFE was inserted. After four weeks the animals were killed, the specimens were harvested and the intimal thickening was quantified by morphometric analysis. RESULTS: In the comparison among groups I, II and III referring to intimal, medial area and intimal index, it was not observed statistically significant variation. Differences were identified among groups referring to luminal proximal (p=0,036) and distal areas (p=0,044). Through multiple comparison tests for Kruskal-Wallis it was identified a difference between groups I and II. However, when these variables were controlled by weigh factor (luminal area/weigh relation), this difference was not observed anymore. CONCLUSION: In this short term study, the PTFE covering is not associated to further intimal thickening besides that promoted by the metallic mesh in large arteries and in high flow conditions.

Effect of cilostazol on neointimal hyperplasia in iliac arteries of pigs after transluminal angioplasty

OBJECTIVE to evaluate whether systemic administration of cilostazol reduces neointimal hyperplasia in iliac arteries of pigs submitted to balloon catheter angioplasty. METHODS twenty pigs underwent angioplasty with a 6x40 mm balloon catheter in the right common iliac artery, guided by Doppler ultrasound. The animals were randomized into two groups: group 1 (n=10), which received 50mg cilostazol twice a day, and group 2 (n=10), control. After 30 days, the animals were killed and the iliac arteries prepared for histological analysis. The histological sections were digitized and analyzed by digital morphometry. Statistical analysis was performed using the Student t and Mann-Whitney tests. RESULTS when comparing the iliac arteries submitted to angioplasty with those not subjected to angioplasty, there was significant neointimal hyperplasia (0.228 versus 0.119 mm2; p=0.0001). In arteries undergoing angioplasty, there was no difference between group 1 (cilostazol) and group 2 (control) as for the lumen area (2.277 versus 2.575 mm2; p=0.08), the tunica intima (0.219 versus 0.237 mm2; p=0.64), the tunica media (2.262 vs. 2.393 mm2; p=0.53) and the neointimal occlusion percentage (8.857 vs. 9.257 %; p=0.82). CONCLUSION the use of cilostazol 50mg administered in two daily doses did not reduce neointimal hyperplasia in iliac arteries of pigs submitted to balloon angioplasty catheter.

Upper limb revascularization with reversed vein graft and microvascular anastomoses after brachial artery aneurysm resection in a child with tuberous sclerosis

The authors present an unusual case of a 3-year-old girl who was diagnosed with a fast-growing brachial aneurysm due to tuberous sclerosis. The patient was submitted to aneurysm resection and microsurgical reconstruction with reversed greater saphenous vein graft at the same time. She had a favorable follow-up, without neuromuscular deficits. Doppler ultrasonography has been performed for diagnosis, vein graft choosing, and postoperative follow-up. It is the opinion of the authors that such combined approach may be the routine for pediatric vascular reconstructions. Finally, this reconstruction has been rarely reported in tuberous sclerosis patients.